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What's the difference between "believe" and "believe in" in the following sentences?

I.
Kate: Hey, John, do you believe in black magic and astrology?
John: No, I don't believe in all those things.

II.
Kate: Hey, John, do you believe in black magic and astrology?
John: No, I don't believe all those things.

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2 Answers 2

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We believe a statement, that it is true.

We believe a person (who has spoken), that what they say is true.

We believe in a person (we have faith in them or trust them).

We believe in [the existence of] something, that it is real.

Astrology makes predictions, and thus is in some ways it is like a statement. Both of these would be idiomatic:

I don't believe astrology.

I don't believe in astrology.

But "magic" makes no statements. This would be not be idiomatic:

I don't believe magic. unidiomatic

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  • So can I use both of them in the sentence?
    – subhajit dalal
    Commented Oct 5, 2017 at 16:58
  • What sentence are you speaking of? There are several in your question.
    – TimR
    Commented Oct 5, 2017 at 16:59
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    Per this NGram, to believe astrology is vanishingly rare compared to to believe in astrology. That's because astrology is a source of knowledge and/or entity whose "existence" may be doubted, rather than an actual statement (whose veracity may be open to question).
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Oct 5, 2017 at 17:07
  • @FumbleFingers:I don't think we can rely on ngram here inasmuch as "I don't believe astrology" is a colloquialism not likely to finds its way into print. I don't doubt that "believe in" occurs far more often. And I said "in some ways it is like a statement", not that it was a statement. I'm merely attempting to explain the usage. I do believe in astrology. You shouldn't go outdoors next week.
    – TimR
    Commented Oct 5, 2017 at 17:12
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    @FumbleFingers: "Obviously you can actually say I don't believe astrology with no preposition, but that changes the meaning somewhat. " Exactly the point I was making in my answer.
    – TimR
    Commented Oct 5, 2017 at 17:26
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believe in spirits

believe in ghosts

believe in God

believe (in) you/her/him/them

believe in this method of teaching

believe in early rising

believe in marrying young

believe astrology or believe in astrology ?

I could think 'believe in' means 'accept as true' or 'accept as good' or 'accept as being'.

I feel 'believe (in) astrology'.

Language is not a science and it is a living creature: be born, has been living, be dead

Language is only just 'a promise' agreed among specific group of people(s).

We can not promise (in) everything.

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  • "I feel 'believe (in) astrology'. " You feel… what?
    – Mari-Lou A
    Commented Mar 25, 2021 at 11:33
  • feel both of them can be used and it depends on the user of the language
    – gomadeng
    Commented Mar 26, 2021 at 8:17

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